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can blazers go over the cap to sign powell
olshey is in for some big decisions (powell, nurk, covington, collins, kanter)
I really see only one way to keep Powell. Portland fails to make the playoffs and so retain their lottery pick in a good draft. Before the draft they trade the pick and CJ for a really good forward. I wish I knew who that was, only feasible trade seems sending CJ to New Orleans and Siakam to Portland. NO assets (and our pick?) to Toronto. Would probably want to know what Powell thinks about Siakam. Fire Stotts. Neglect Jones so he doesn't exercise his player option. It's a risky strategy, because I think Powell wants to sign with a winning team, so have to persuade him that we were losers this year but with the changes we will be winners!
"A lot of it depends on how the season goes."
You'd have to think his plan was to keep Powell and trade CJ.If CJ stays then Powell goes. If Olshey stays then CJ stays. If those things happen then Olshey traded Gary away for plummeting playoff seeding and nothing more.
Maybe I'm wrong about Olshey. Maybe if he kicks Terry to the curb, it will change his entire viewpoint of what this team should look like. So maybe he does trade CJ and transforms the roster. I think if he traded CJ and fired Stotts it would be pretty easy to sell Norm on his role here being what he wants it to be next season and re-sign him to start next to Dame.
I'd love to think that and I hope you're right but the last time I heard Olshey talk it was still about how other players complement Dame and CJ, not how they complement Dame. So just because what you just said makes perfect sense doesn't mean that's where Olshey's head is at. The guy has said countless times that he thinks that the Dame/CJ back court is foundational for a championship team and he's said that CJ is untouchable... CJ fucking McCollum is untouchable?!?! When it comes to CJ it's hard for me to expect Neil Olshey to think logically.You'd have to think his plan was to keep Powell and trade CJ.
You'd have to think his plan was to keep Powell and trade CJ.
It will be interesting for sure. I don't think he gives up on Zach and probably not Simons. I hope the deal the Zach Turns out positive sort of like when Denver drafted Mike Porter with a broken back and it took him awhile to get in form. Not saying Zach will every be as good as Porter but he could be a solid defender for cheap the next few years. If CJ is in demand and there is the right deal I could see him pulling the trigger.....maybethat certainly seems logical, all things considered...right?
but maybe, Stotts isn't the only one sitting on a really hot seat and there was some desperation motivating Olshey. The Blazers were under-performing expectations and significantly under-performing Olshey's off-season spin about the impact his moves would have. Olshey could have been just trying the least expensive hail-mary he had available
I still don't believe his ego will let him trade CJ...or Simons...or Zach. And with Zach, I'm really worried Olshey will bid against himself again and pull a Meyers-2.0 with Zach's extension
It will be interesting for sure. I don't think he gives up on Zach and probably not Simons. I hope the deal the Zach Turns out positive sort of like when Denver drafted Mike Porter with a broken back and it took him awhile to get in form. Not saying Zach will every be as good as Porter but he could be a solid defender for cheap the next few years. If CJ is in demand and there is the right deal I could see him pulling the trigger.....maybe
History does not bode well...I'm ok with Zach on a "cheap" deal. But cheap for me means 5M or less a year, preferably less, and short-term as well. Kanter is making 5M and he's a lot better and more valuable than Zach
I think people underestimate Neil's ability to trade a asset. I think he would trade Dame if the deal was right.I'd love to think that and I hope you're right but the last time I heard Olshey talk it was still about how other players complement Dame and CJ, not how they complement Dame. So just because what you just said makes perfect sense doesn't mean that's where Olshey's head is at. The guy has said countless times that he thinks that the Dame/CJ back court is foundational for a championship team and he's said that CJ is untouchable... CJ fucking McCollum is untouchable?!?! When it comes to CJ it's hard for me to expect Neil Olshey to think logically.
So let's just hope you're right and Neil has made a big shift in the way he sees things, in the direction of being reasonable.
I think people underestimate Neil's ability to trade a asset. I think he would trade Dame if the deal was right.
I hope you're right and it's not his ability but willingness. I'm not parsing words when I say that Neil has said CJ is "untouchable" in the past but hopefully that has changed.I think people underestimate Neil's ability to trade a asset. I think he would trade Dame if the deal was right.
I think he would be willing for the right player and/or package. Im not sure if teams would touch is contract but someone like Philly bombs during playoffs because a lack of scoring/three's from back court a player like Harris could be available. But his contract is uglier than CJ's but Id still make that trade.I hope you're right and it's not his ability but willingness. I'm not parsing words when I say that Neil has said CJ is "untouchable" in the past but hopefully that has changed.
I don’t buy any of that and am surprised you doif reports are correct, he wouldn't trade CJ for Paul George or Kawhi or Harden, or Simons for Gordon. I can't imagine what it would take for him to trade Dame. Of course, Dame wasn't his choice the same way CJ and Simons were, so maybe his ego wouldn't be setting ridiculous value as a starting point
The Knicks didn't seem to have a problem with CJ's contract according to reports early this season. I actually don't think that CJ's contract is bad, if he's on a team with personnel that balances it out. If a team needs a perimeter scorer and lead guard and doesn't need defense at that position, then CJ is their guy for 30M.I think he would be willing for the right player and/or package. Im not sure if teams would touch is contract but someone like Philly bombs during playoffs because a lack of scoring/three's from back court a player like Harris could be available. But his contract is uglier than CJ's but Id still make that trade.
The Knicks didn't seem to have a problem with CJ's contract according to reports early this season. I actually don't think that CJ's contract is bad, if he's on a team with personnel that balances it out. If a team needs a perimeter scorer and lead guard and doesn't need defense at that position, then CJ is their guy for 30M.
I think a three team deal with the Knicks could bring back a great piece like Siakam. I think the Knicks would give up picks and young players to put CJ on a team with Randle and Robinson and still have enough money to bring on a max player whose contract could start out around more than 32M depending on the young players they move.
If the trade was Knox, Toppin, their first rounder and the Mavs first rounder for CJ. That might seem like an overpay and maybe they would get a future first back from us or Toronto but it's the position it would put them in that would be great. They could renounce their cap holds and go after Kawhi in free agency. CJ, Barrett, Kawhi, Randle and Robinson with Quickley off of the bench, the full MLE, Detroits second rounder and ring chasers flocking to MSG. That might be the team to beat next season and for a while if they also work out extensions with Randle and Robinson in the off season.
That's just one scenario but I think teams like Philly or NYK would want CJ and not even see it as in spite of his contract. CJ's offensive abilities are worth 30M on a team that needs offense and has great defense to put around it. We're just not that team... CJ is not worth 30M to a team with Damian Lillard. Why would Dame's team need an incredibly gifted scoring small guard with no defense especially one who makes over a fifth of the teams salary?
Is that "love" as in "I love to watch the world burn"?I would love to see a CJ/Thibs pairing in New York.